The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-28
ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN DAY.
The Wonderful bicycle Road That Mr..
Thomas Nichols Intends to Build.


New York Mail and Express.
man wearing red mustache and q far
away, dreamy look sat IN a big room at the
Fifth-avenue Hotel, surrounded By lot of Curl
Gus models consisting OF little machines that
ran backwards and forwards upon single track
Now and then he would mutter, Yes, if they
work at all the American continent can be crossed
In day instead of a week. Then he would
seize machine and push it rapidly to an fro on
its single track. A reporter, observing these
singular maneuvers, asked the gentleman. who
is known to fame as Mr.. Thomas Nichols Presi-
dent Garfelds private secretary. what his models
meant. He said they illustrated Boynton's BIZ
cycle railway system.
This invention" he explained, sis either the
greatest one of the age else it amounts to
nothing. | heard Boynton talking about his
bicycle railroad. SO 1 invested some money and
had these models made. This invention is not
to drive out existing railroads, but to change
them so they can reduce expenses and revolu
tonize the bed system Narrow, deep and strong
trains OF onehfth the present weight may be
guided on the present railroad tracks by an over
hanging structure, supporting dependent guide
rails. about sixteen feet above the standard
gauge tracks. This will permit grooved guiding
wheels of single rail trains to engage and glide
under single overhead rail- against which the
wheels are held by vertical spindle shaft and
spiral springs, projected upward from steel cars,
46 inches wide, IL feet or more deep, supported
by and riding upon single rail below pre-
cisely similar ble-fanged supporting wheels.
This system makes fivefold saving over the
present A further saving of fve-fold
power required in rounding curves, is effected
the substitution or S1Oglo-rall Dlcyclo Splndio
wheels instead of double axle wheels of the two
rallied tracks now in Thus it will be seen
that competition, either from the present system
of railroads or from waterways will be out OF the
question when the bicycle roads are adopted.
The overhead structure on the present roads can
be built without interrupting trafhc whatever
and the new system adopted at once. Bicycle
trains will be forty six inches wide and one foot
clear space will be between the trains that run
in opposite directions on the double tracks.
These bicycle trains will run at speed OF 220
miles per hour. The difference between the
present and the new system when in full opera
ton is that between a stage coach and q light
ming express
The bicycle trains continued Mr.. Nichols,
will never run off the track. That will be i'm
possible. The personal comfort of travellers will
be just as great as on the present fast trains in
palace cars. It will not be difficult to breathe
going at such n rapid rate. the atmosphere
travels along with the train. AS to easy riding
these bicycle trains will run smoothly there
will be no difficulty in writing letters on them
The wheels will be made of steel and paper The
rapid motion will not melt the journals,
because the weight of the car is
so small there will be little friction
The new roads can be built at one-third the cost
of the present kind But my plan would be al
ways to build double track, SO to have the
the superstructure should of iron piping. in
tend to build several hundred feet of track at
Arlington and operate engine it TO see
how it operates in practice. Yes, from New
York to San Francisco in one day will be no
more thought of. if the bicycle road is q success,
than a week is now Just wait and see develop
m